2008 Woodie Awards
TKE CEO questions whether laws were broken, USA officials mum on situation
Derek Bagley
Issue date: 3/26/07 Section: News
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The national Tau Kappa Epsilon office has concluded its investigation into the Nu Mu chapter of the fraternity at the University of South Alabama, but USA is still in the process of determining whether members of that chapter illegally hazed a new member.
The investigation has been underway since January of this year when a campus police report indicated that TKE members had beat Chris Mims, a new member, so badly that it put Mims in the hospital with a ruptured spleen. According to the report, the members used wooden paddles and their fists to repeatedly hit Mims' midsection.
Since then, University officials have not commented on the investigation. Vice President of Student Affairs Dale Adams and USA Greek Advisor Emily Ulmer both said it would be "inappropriate" to discuss the incident since it is an ongoing disciplinary investigation.
National TKE Chief Executive Officer Kevin Mayeux said the national office has concluded its investigation and has already taken steps to improving the situation.
Mayeux also said that he has not heard back from University police.
"[USA Police Chief Normand Gamache] told me several times that he would get back to me when it was done," Mayeux said. "I guess it's just taking them longer than they anticipated."
Gamache declined to comment.
Jonathan Morrison, president of the Nu Mu chapter of TKE, said that they are still awaiting the outcome of the USA police investigation.
"All we can do is remain optimistic and hope for the best outcome," Morrison said, "not only for us, but also for the whole Greek system at South."
Mayeux said he did not find any evidence to suggest the members violated Alabama law.
"Alabama law is different than what the University might come up with," Mayeux said. "Our guys did stuff that they didn't think was bad conduct, and it did not violate Alabama law, but it did violate the spirit of what we consider to be the proper way of doing a new member education program, and it may have violated the safety of the University."
The investigation has been underway since January of this year when a campus police report indicated that TKE members had beat Chris Mims, a new member, so badly that it put Mims in the hospital with a ruptured spleen. According to the report, the members used wooden paddles and their fists to repeatedly hit Mims' midsection.
Since then, University officials have not commented on the investigation. Vice President of Student Affairs Dale Adams and USA Greek Advisor Emily Ulmer both said it would be "inappropriate" to discuss the incident since it is an ongoing disciplinary investigation.
National TKE Chief Executive Officer Kevin Mayeux said the national office has concluded its investigation and has already taken steps to improving the situation.
Mayeux also said that he has not heard back from University police.
"[USA Police Chief Normand Gamache] told me several times that he would get back to me when it was done," Mayeux said. "I guess it's just taking them longer than they anticipated."
Gamache declined to comment.
Jonathan Morrison, president of the Nu Mu chapter of TKE, said that they are still awaiting the outcome of the USA police investigation.
"All we can do is remain optimistic and hope for the best outcome," Morrison said, "not only for us, but also for the whole Greek system at South."
Mayeux said he did not find any evidence to suggest the members violated Alabama law.
"Alabama law is different than what the University might come up with," Mayeux said. "Our guys did stuff that they didn't think was bad conduct, and it did not violate Alabama law, but it did violate the spirit of what we consider to be the proper way of doing a new member education program, and it may have violated the safety of the University."
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